Outrage at prices

[trancejeremy]

I find it ironic that someone who apparently doesn't pay for most of his books, but gets them as review copies, is complaining about complaining about high prices. If prices are no problem, why don't you write reviews of products you actually pay for (if you actually buy any?).


This illustrates my point about the potential of high priced books creating a class structure of gamers, where you have certain onese looking down on the poorer ones, who have the audacity to complain when they feel they might be priced out of the hobby.

 

[Crothian]

I find it ironic that someone who apparently doesn't pay for most of his books, but gets them as review copies, is complaining about complaining about high prices. If prices are no problem, why don't you write reviews of products you actually pay for (if you actually buy any?).

I get PDFs for free. I've gotten about a dozen books so far, but most of them only in the last month for review. In the past few weeks I reviewed En Route 2 and Dragon Fiend Pact, both I bought. I buy plenty of books, please don't make such false claims about me Jermey because you have no idea what I get and what I buy.

 

[Glyfair]

It's because I'm 43 and I remember major hardback releases at $15.00 or less. Irrational yes, but it's still there. If it's something I know I will like and will use a lot, I'll pay for it and I'll rarely complain but at the same time I'll probably always think of any game book more than $20.00 as 'overpriced'.

I remember when comic books were 15 cents. I remember when it was outrageous that gas prices had broken $1/gallon. I also remember when minimum wage was slightly over $3/hour and VCRs were well over $1000. I don't base my opinions of price on "what things used to cost."

On the other hand, a lot of products I don't purchase because they were put out in hardback. Only rarely do I want a product in hardback. Put some of these out in softback at a lower price point and I'd buy many more of them (indeed, it would probably increase my spending on d20 products).

 

[Vocenoctum]

I get PDFs for free. I've gotten about a dozen books so far, but most of them only in the last month for review. In the past few weeks I reviewed En Route 2 and Dragon Fiend Pact, both I bought. I buy plenty of books, please don't make such false claims about me Jermey because you have no idea what I get and what I buy.

I assumed he meant JGK, but it wasn't specified. Either way, how can this thread go anywhere with the opposite opinion being designated as "Outrage" instead of "concern" or plenty of other words?
He even says Outrage over and over again, it's sort of funny.

 

[Frozen DM]

My advice: Only buy the RPG books you think you will enjoy (and preferably use). Then go out and have some ice cream.

This is particularly good advice

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

In the end, though, the consumer simply has to ask himself whether the higher dollar products are worth it or not. Vote with your dollar, whether in support of a product or in protest to the price tag.

Yep, that's what I do. I've a spending threshold that I have trouble bringing myself to go over. It's around $50 for an individual product, and about $100 or so for multiple products. I have severe trouble going over either for anything but a special purchase.

And the ice cream is a good idea.

Brad

 

[Angel Tarragon]

If I can't find it at Amazon, I'll pay the retail price. That means anything done by a third party publisher. All Wizards products are there and are reasonably discounted (30% or more depending on the book). Otherwise, I don't gripe.

 

[Buttercup]

You're right. I'm so embarassed. Actually, I just checked my shelf. I think that with the exception of 3.0E Manual of the Planes, you've given me every D&D thing I own except the core books and Magical Medieval Society.

Well, obviously the prices have been right.

 

[Morpheus]

Money is difficult to come by, most folks have to work for it (some very hard).

Yeah, like teachers...

 

[romp]

Is the market going to stratify into deluxe premium hardback users, who put their books on payment plans vs. the free and cheap market with POD, pdfs, and other low cost ditribution. I can see two camps of gamers populating the 'net each with their own forums and constantly griping at one another.

then again that might be fun ....